RUTLAND, Vt – The Castleton men's hockey team opened up the new year with a conference matchup against UMass Boston, allowing five second-period goals in a 7-2 loss at home.
 
The Spartans (4-10-0, 2-5-0 NEHC) scored two goals of their own in the second frame from Jackson Kobelka and Brandon Picard, but UMass Boston's offensive onslaught proved too much to overcome in the team's first loss of 2023.
 
There was nothing to split the teams after the first period with the Beacons holding a slight 12-11 advantage in shots on goal. The game entered the first break scoreless before the doors scoring frenzy began in the second.
 
UMass Boston started the second frame with four unanswered goals in the opening eight minutes before Kobelka stopped the bleeding with Castleton's first powerplay goal of the night on a beautiful feed from Bryce Irwin to make it a 4-1 game. Shortly thereafter the Spartans struck again on Picard's team-high fifth goal of the season, getting assists from Irwin — giving the sophomore a team-best eight assists on the year — and freshman Balint Mesterhazy to cut the lead to two.
 
Before the period could end, however, UMass Boston scored their fifth and final goal of the frame on their third powerplay opportunity of the night to extend their lead back to three at the second intermission.
 
The actions was back and forth in the final frame before Beacon goals at the 16:20 and 19:50 marks made it a 7-2 game and handed the Spartans the loss.
 
Castleton will look to get back on track Saturday, January 7 when they host Johnson & Wales in their second NEHC matchup of the weekend, with puck drop scheduled for 4 p.m.